Says she will stay to fight "crashing out of Europe" from within the party

Justine Greening on the Today show

Speculation over Putney MP Justine Greening's future within the Conservative party has continued this week.

She has been tipped by some commentators to be among the next group of MPs to switch their allegiance to The Independent Group. So far eight Labour and three Tory MPs have joined the new grouping which is opposed to a hard Brexit.

Ms Greening said on Radio 4's Today Show this Thursday morning (21 February) that she would consider quitting the Conservative Party if Britain was to leave the EU without a deal, but for now she want to fight against the possibility of no deal from within the party.

She commented when asked about joining The Independent Group, "It is something that I have considered, but I have reached a different conclusion for the moment. I don't think I would be able to stay part of a party that was simply a Brexit party that had crashed us out of the European Union."

Ms Greening and Phillip Lee, the MP for Bracknell, say Mrs May has ignored requests from pro-EU Tory MPs in favour of Brexiteers. It is understood they have had a private meeting with the Prime Minister on the matter.

The former Education Secretary has repeatedly called for a second referendum on Brexit.

It has been widely reported that four cabinet ministers have told Mrs May that they will not support a government policy that makes a no deal outcome to the Brexit negotiations likely and they have urged her to extend Article 50 before this becomes a possibility.

February 22, 2019